Jeff Rowland Model 1

My thinking is amplifier design had reached maturity by the turn of the century and that any high end amp even if its 30 years old will stand up to anything today as long as it is serviced( new caps etc. Do you guys think anything new out there at 900 bucks can beat this little Rowland Model 1 or any other used amp out there for same price. I called and talked to Jeff himself and he said he will service it for 500 bucks. So is there any new amp out there for 1500  new that will compete? Again I am on a strict budget. 

Plenty of used amps for $1500 that will compete.  Like already stated, good little amp, warm and musical, no game changer.  $900 is the max for a great condition one.  The amp uses modules so if it breaks a local tech cannot repair it.  An old HK Citation 16 to my ears is a much better amp in direct comparison but the JR will be a little sweeter in the mids.

Happy Listening.

Lot of folks, myself included, believe that Jeff's amps from that era are superior to a number of his later class D designs. To that, at the price point you are looking at, and with a service from Jeff, I think it would be next to impossible to buy something new that would better this amp.
Lot of people will naysay the idea, I doubt any of them have actually owned or lived with a model 1. As an owner of a model 8T that Jeff modded for me, I can tell you that it easily competes with a number of other ss amps from today that are not built anywhere near as solid, or sound anywhere near as resolved or transparent. The current crop of ss amps are also many multiples in price of Jeff's 'Golden era' amps.
HK Citation 16....LOL, not in the same league at all as the model 1, IME.

This little amp is a Jewel. Just the way is looks. Thick front faceplate, rounded heatsinks, compact. On the inside, everything is shielded and very clean. You can tell this guy LOVES building amplifiers just by how it is constructed. I have heard the Model 2,6 and 8 are his best amps ever and are considered some of the best of all time. His class D gaining respect but I am old school when it comes to amp design. Colorado putting out some INSANE audio equipment. Jeff Rowland, PS AUDIO, AYRE, BOULDER, WILSON, AVALON, ETC

OP, sounds like your mind is made up. Good luck, and enjoy ! MrD.